{ "blocks": [ { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "San Jose Sharks prospect Luca Cagnoni is having an incredible season and has just posted the best WHL season by a defenseman in the 21st century." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Sharks' 2023 fourth-round pick, who plays for the Portland Winterhawks, has 87 points (16 goals, 71 assists) in 63 games." } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA1MTE3NTM1MjIwMTQ3OTY0/screenshot_20240318_144104_chrome.jpg" }, "caption": "All time most points in a single season by a defenseman from 2000" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "He has had incredible highlight reel plays all season, including almost scoring a Michigan goal." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Cagnoni ranks third on the team in points and 17th across the entire WHL." } }, { "id": "2wp73wr8-qkj5tnsn", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/pdxwinterhawks/status/1767736986608205856", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1767736986608205856", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "His elite skating and slick hands make him a top candidate to be a top offensive talent in the NHL. He continues to develop the rest of his game to become a more complete defenseman." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Sources close to Cagnoni have told THN that Sharks development coach Luca Sbisa has been working with Cagnoni throughout the season. There has been a positive relationship which has brought out the best in the young defenseman." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "THN was told that Sbisa has provided Cagnoni with a strong but rewarding style of development." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "He slipped in draft rankings due to his 5'9 stature, but that seemingly only motivated him to prove that size shouldn't matter. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "One player comparison could be Buffalo Sabres' defenseman Bowen Byram. Byram is also a product of the WHL and has never had a season like Cagnoni's. His career high in points was 71 in the 2018-19 season." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Byram was selected No. 4 overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2019 NHL Draft. He is slightly bigger than Cagnoni, listed at 6'1, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming a top-flight d-man in the NHL and Stanley Cup Champion. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Byram was traded to Buffalo at the trade deadline and has found early success in an elevated role after no longer being behind Cale Makar on the depth chart." } }, { "id": "qkq2344l-jqgu0qcp", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/GinoHard_/status/1767710828772397398", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1767710828772397398", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Luca Cagnoni is eligible to sign an entry-level contract but hasn't done so yet. He remains under the Sharks' team control and could sign at a moment's notice. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "BREAKING: Sharks Fire Russian Amateur Scout Igor Eronko" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Klim Kostin Scores Again; Continues Impressive Play On Sharks' Top Line" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Former Jr. Sharks Goaltender Set To Make NHL Debut With Childhood Team" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Three Takeaways From Sharks 4-2 Loss To Blue Jackets" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "BREAKING: Former Sharks' First-Round Pick Loaned To Milwaukee For Remainder Of AHL Season" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Klim Kostin Making The Most Of Sharks Opportunity" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "unordered", "items": [ "Follow Max on Twitter: @Real_Max_Miller" ] } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTkwNDcwMzA3MzkwODQw/img_6014.jpg" }, "caption": "The Hockey News" } } ] }

Sharks Prospects: Luca Cagnoni Posts Best Season By A WHL Defenseman In The 21st Century